Reverand Ed C. Terry

ED CARROL TERRY Ed answered God's call to the Ministry in 1953, and has served the Lord since then. On Aug. 28, 2012, Ed answered God's final call, and went home to be with Him. Ed was born on Nov. 13, 1923, the youngest of three sons, in Roby, Texas, to James Calhoun Terry and Lula Lee Thompson. At the age of six years the family moved to Abilene, TX, where Ed grew up. Ed served gallantly in the Army Air Corps during WW II, in the south Pacific Campaign, and was awarded the American Theater Campaign, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze star, the Good Conduct Medal, Victory Ribbon with one Service Stripe , and three Overseas Service Bars. He earned the rank of Buck Sergeant prior to his honorable discharge in 1945. Upon his return to civilian life, Ed decided to continue his college education, and was awarded a Bachelors Degree from Hardin-Simmons University, in 1948. During this time he met, and married Elizabeth Oneta White. They left Texas, and settled in Rincon, NM, where Ed taught school for two years. He later went to work in a feed/grain store, and began attending First Baptist Church, of Hatch, NM, where he served as Deacon and a Sunday School Teacher. Ed and Oneta were married for almost 50 years, when she preceded him in death in March, 1998. After Ed responded to the Lord's call in 1953, he and Neta left Hatch, NM and went to Southwestern Baptist Seminary, for three years. After graduation, Ed pastored several churches, among them Greentree (later named First Baptist Ruidoso Downs), and former Westside Baptist Church, in Las Cruces. In 1977 Ed was called to be the Director of Missions in the San Juan Baptist Association (Farmington, NM area), which post he held for 13 years. When Ed "retired" in 1990 he made himself available for temporary pastorates (interims) and served at seven churches, during the next eight years. Ed also conducted many Revival Services, at various churches in the greater southwest area. Ed and his second wife Elnora Anne Altman, have been married for 14 years. During this time they traveled, and really enjoyed Ed's retirement. Ed continued to be in the Lord's service by holding the offices of Deacon, and Sunday School Director, and assisting at annual Vacation Bible Schools at his current church home, East Mesa Baptist Church, in Las Cruces. When the new church building was being built, in 1999, Ed transferred his energies to the physical construction of the building, helping not only in the actual building, but also working in the kitchen, or driving, or running errands, doing whatever needed to be done, in the Lord's Name. Besides his parents, and wife, Ed was preceded in death by his two brothers, Truman Calhoun Terry (wife, Marjorie Terry, also deceased) and Kenneth Cade Terry (wife, Mickey Terry, residing in Austin, TX). Ed is survived by Elnora, and children, Marshall Clay Terry (wife, Suzie, deceased), James Clayburn Terry, Elizabeth Oneta Moore (husband David), and Nathan Cullen Terry: his step-daughters, Linda Goff (husband, James), Sheryl King, and Gail Christ (husband David). He was very proud of his eight grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, his great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Ed rarely met a person he didn't like, and Las Cruces is full of his friends. Words cannot express our deep sense of loss at not having Ed with us any longer, but we know that he is with the Lord, and we shall be with them both someday. A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 pm on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012 at Getz Funeral Home. Services will be held 2:00 PM at East Mesa Baptist Church on Friday, Aug. 31, 2012 with Pastor Linvell Tisdale presiding. The US Army will provide military honors. A fellowship meal will be provided at 12:30 PM prior to funeral services. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Ed's name to Ambercare Hospice or to a charity of choice. PDF Printable Version